As soon as he finished speaking, there was a buzz in the hall.
The ministers were whispering to each other.
Ministry of Revenue Shangshu Zhou Wenyuan came out and cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, what Master Yao said is certainly reasonable, but I have a question, what is the identity of Zhou Qi?"
Yao Jingyi frowned.
Zhou Wenyuan continued, "Zhou Qi is just a guest of Yao Residence, not an official of the court. If Champion Marquis is said to be a personal grudge, how can the court convict Jin Tie and others? Jin Tie and others are dead, and there is no corroboration. It is difficult to convince the public based on Master Yao's words alone."
"A one-sided statement?" Yao Jingyi turned to look at him, and his voice became colder, "Mr. Zhou, what happened yesterday is known to everyone in the city. Lord Taiwei was present in person. Are you telling me that you are telling me a one-sided statement?"
Zhou Wenyuan calmly said, "Lord Yao, please calm down. I am not saying that this matter is untrue, but that there is insufficient evidence. Champion Marquis can deduce that Jin Tie and others acted privately and had nothing to do with him. If the court convicts him for this, wouldn't it be a crime he wanted to impose?"
"Want to impose a crime?" Yao Jingyi sneered, "Champion Marquis's housekeeper and minister, without his order, dare to sneak into the capital privately? Do you believe what Mr. Zhou said?"
The two were tit for tat, and the atmosphere in the court became increasingly tense.
Minister of War Lu Zhengyuan came out of the queue at this time.
He is in his early fifties, has an elegant face, and speaks slowly and calmly, "Your Majesty, I believe that this matter should not be expanded."
Yao Jingyi looked at him with an evil look in his eyes.
Lu Zhengyuan continued, "Champion Marquis has been in charge of Blackstone City for decades, and has many generals under his command. It is not surprising that there are a few scum. If a big fight is made because of this, it will appear that the court is narrow-minded. It is better to send an edict and warn it, ordering it to restrain its subordinates, and the matter will be exposed."
"Have you ever exposed this?" Yao Jingyi's voice rose a little higher, "Master Lu, Champion Marquis's people have come to the capital. Do you think this has been exposed?"
Lu Zhengyuan looked at him, his tone still unhurried. "Master Yao, what do you want? Send troops to attack?
"Do you know how many private soldiers Champion Marquis has and what their strength is?"
"He himself has been Foundation Establishment Perfection for many years. It is unknown whether he has entered that Golden Core Realm realm now!"
"If the imperial court takes the initiative to start a war, what are the chances of winning? Even if it wins, how many people will die? How much food and grass will be lost?"
He paused and lowered his voice a bit, but every word was clear. "Master Yao, if you can take on this responsibility, I have nothing to say. But if you can't..."
"That's enough."
Two words.
The sound was not loud, but it was like a muffled thunder that exploded in the empty hall.
Everyone's voices stopped suddenly.
The ministers raised their heads and looked at the dragon chair.
Emperor Xianwu is still sitting there, with the same posture as before, eyes half-open and half-closed, and the corner of the robe motionless.
But his aura changed.
Like a sleeping giant, it slowly opened its eyes.
Emperor Xianwu stood up.
He didn't speak, he just walked out from the shadow behind the dragon chair and walked down the throne step by step.
The hem of the dragon robe trailed behind him, making a subtle rustling sound on the white jade steps.
With every step he took, the momentum became stronger.
When he walked to the center of Danbi, the entire Tai Chi Hall air seemed to freeze.
It was a feeling of oppression that cannot be described in words.
It's not the pressure of Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer.
Emperor Xianwu has not used force to overwhelm others for many years.
The terrifying pressure unleashed today is like mountains toppling, like the sky collapsing and the earth collapsing.
The expressions of the officials changed.
For those with low cultivation, their legs become weak and they almost fall to their knees.
Ministry of Revenue Shang Shu Zhou Wenyuan Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he held on to the pillar next to him before he stood firm.
Minister of War Lu Zhengyuan turned pale and subconsciously took half a step back.
Yao Jingyi gritted his teeth and held on without retreating, but his back was soaked with cold sweat.
Huangfu Song stood at the front of the queue of generals, frowning slightly.
He is Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer Peak, one of the people with the highest cultivation level present, but at this moment he also feels an irresistible pressure.
Emperor Xianwu, with the blessing of Imperial Dragon Vein, has almost touched the threshold of the great realm.
Emperor Xianwu's eyes swept over the ministers, and no one in the audience dared to look directly at them.
His eyes finally fell on Lu Zhengyuan.
"Lu Shangshu!"
When he spoke, his voice was not loud, but at the moment the whole place was silent, which seemed very oppressive.
"Do you know the size of that Champion Marquis private soldier?"
"Has your strength exceeded the Golden Core Realm level?"
Three sentences, with a calm voice, but each sentence implies murderous intent.
An undeniable sense of oppression instantly hit Lu Zhengyuan's heart, and cold sweat suddenly broke out on his forehead.
The emperor was dissatisfied with what he had just said.
With a "plop", Lu Zhengyuan knelt down directly and hit his forehead directly to the ground. After hitting it three times in a row, he dared to speak:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I forgive you. I don't know how strong Champion Marquis is. I'm just worried that if I act rashly, I will force that guy..."
He didn't dare to say those two words before he finished speaking.
There was deathly silence in the hall.
Emperor Xianwu stood in the center of Danbi, standing with his hands behind his back, not looking at Lu Zhengyuan who was kneeling on the ground.
He did not return to the throne, but just stood there, looking down at the ministers.
"I have been on the throne for thirty-seven years. What troubles have I not seen? How can a marquis with a different surname be worthy of me throwing a rat weapon?"
This is a very serious statement.
The ministers lowered their heads and did not dare to breathe.
Emperor Xianwu continued, "Zhou Wenyuan."
Ministry of Revenue Shangshu trembled all over, came out of the queue and knelt down. "I am here."
"You just said that Zhou Qi is not an official of the imperial court, so it is not a big deal for Champion Marquis to kill him?"
Zhou Wenyuan put his forehead to the ground. "I... I just said there is insufficient evidence..."
"Evidence?" Emperor Xianwu laughed, the laughter was very soft, but hearing it sent chills down the spine, "My words are evidence. I said it was Champion Marquis who instigated it, so it was Champion Marquis who instigated it. What, you suspect that I wrongly accused him?"
Zhou Wenyuan was trembling all over. "I don't dare! I absolutely don't dare!"
Emperor Xianwu looked at him for a few breaths, then looked away.
"Everyone, get up."
Zhou Wenyuan and Lu Zhengyuan got up and stepped aside as if they had received an amnesty, their legs still shaking.
Emperor Xianwu leaned on the dragon chair, glanced at the ministers, and his tone returned to calmness. "I know what you are thinking. Some are afraid of war, some want to take advantage of the opportunity to gain power, and some are betting on both ends. I don't care what you think, but there is one thing I have to say first."
He paused.
"Champion Marquis's thoughts, I have known for a long time."
As soon as this statement came out, the whole court was in an uproar.
But the uproar only lasted a moment.
Emperor Xianwu glanced over and everyone immediately shut up.
"Whether to fight and when to fight is my business. I don't need you to teach me how to do it."
He looked at Huangfu Song: "Lieutenant."
Huangfu Song came out of the queue and knelt down on one knee. "I am here."
"Qingling Mountains bandits are rampant, repeatedly plundering official roads and killing and injuring people." Emperor Xianwu's tone is still calm, "I order you to lead five thousand troops and set out today to wipe out the bandits."
He paused and said word by word, "When you see someone, kill them all. Burn them all, kill them all, and rob them all. I don't want any prisoners."
Huangfu Song clasped his fists. "I accept the decree!"
Emperor Xianwu looked at Lu Zhengyuan again. "Ministry of War will cooperate with Grand Commandant's Office to allocate food and equipment. Within three days, I will see the army leaving the city. If it is delayed..."
He glanced at Lu Zhengyuan.
"You know the consequences."
Lu Zhengyuan knelt on the ground. "I will never delay!"